WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/GEN/973 
26 October 2009 
 (09-5278) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
INFORMATION ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION  
 
Submission by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex)
 
Meeting of 28-29 October 2009  
 
 
 The following communcation, received on 23 Oct ober 2009, is being circulated at the request 
of the Codex  secretariat. 
 
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I. CODEX SESSIONS SINCE THE LAST MEETING OF THE SPS COMMITTEE (23-
24 JUNE 2009) 
• The 62nd Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Rome, Italy, 23-26 June 2009)  
• The 32nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commi ssion (Rome, Italy, 29 June – 4 July 
2009) 
• The 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish a nd Fishery Products (Agadir, Morocco, 
28 September – 2 October 2009) 
• The Third Session of the ad hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial 
Resistance (Jeju, Republic of Korea, 12-16 October 2009) 
• The 15th Session of the Codex Committee on Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (Mexico City, 
Mexico, 19-23 October 2009) 
 
In particular, the SPS Committee may wish  to take note of the following: 
 1. The 32
nd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission , among others: 
• adopted 28 new or revised Codex standards or related texts (see Appendix I); 
• approved a number of new work  proposals (see Appendix II); 
• noted the status of implementation of the Strategic Plan 2008-2013 of the Codex 
Alimentarius Commission;  
• agreed on a number of recommendations in tended to improve th e participation of 
developing countries, especially as regards capacity building and the Codex Trust Fund; 
and 
• supported continued cooperation and coordina tion with international governmental and 
non-governmental organizations. 
 G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  The full report of the meeting is available at: http://www.codexalimentarius.net
 or at 
ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/Alinorm09/al32REPe.pdf . 
 2. The 30
th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and Fishery Products agreed to forward to 
the Commission for final adoption the Draft Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products (Lobsters 
and Crabs and relevant Definitions);  an amendment to the definition of "clean water" in Section 2.1 
General Definitions of the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products ;  and the Draft Standard for 
Sturgeon Caviar.  The Committee also agreed to forward to the Commission the Proposed Draft Standard for Smoked Fish, Smoke-Flavoured Fish  and Smoke-Dried Fish and the Proposed Draft 
Standard for Fish Sauce, for adoption as a draft standa rd and further consideration at the next session of 
the Committee. 
3. The Committee further agreed to continue discus sion at its next session on:  (i) the Proposed 
Draft Amendment to Secti on 3.4.5.1 Water of the Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products ;  
(ii) the Proposed Draft Standard for Quick Frozen Scallop Adductor Muscle Meat;  (iii) the Proposed 
Draft Revision for the Inclusion of Additional Species in Standards for Fish and Fishery Products;  (iv) 
the Draft List of Methods for the Determination of Biotoxins in the Standard for Raw and Live Bivalve 
Molluscs;  (v) the Proposed Draft Code of Practice  for Fish and Fishery Products (Other Sections 
including Smoked Fish);  (vi) the Proposed Draft Standard for Fresh/Live and Frozen Abalone ( Haliotis 
spp.);  and  (vii) the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Codex  Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Sticks  
(Nitrogen Factors). 
4. The Third Session of the Ad hoc  Intergovernmental Task For ce on Antimicrobial Resistance 
forwarded the Proposed Draft Gu idelines for the Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial 
Resistance to the Commission for adoption as Draft Guidelines and finalization at its next session in 2010, as the Task Force should hold its final meeting and complete its work in 2010. 
II. FORTHCOMING CODEX MEETINGS 
• The 31
st Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  
(Düsseldorf, Germany, 2-6 November 2009)  
• The 41st Session of the Codex Committee on Food Hygiene (San Diego, United States of 
America, 16-20 November 2009) 
• The 63rd Session of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission 
(Geneva, Switzerland, 8-11 December 2009) 
• The Ninth Session of the Codex Committee on Milk and Milk Products (Auckland, New 
Zealand, 1-5 February 2010) 
5. The 31st Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses  
will consider the List of Methods for Dietary Fibre and the addition or revisi on of Nutrient Reference 
Values for Labelling Purposes for inclusion in the Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling .  The 
Committee will also consider the proposal for new work on the amendment of the Codex General 
Principles for the Addition of  Essential Nutrients to Foods ;  on a Standard for Processed Cereal-Based 
Foods for Underweight Infant and Young Children;  and the revision of the Codex Guidelines on 
Formulated Supplementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children .  G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  6. The 41st Session of the  Codex Committee on Food Hygiene will consider the following 
proposed drafts:  Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella  spp. in Chicken Meat;  
an Annex on Leafy Green Vegetables including Leafy Herbs for inclusion in the Code of Hygienic 
Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables;   a Code of Hygienic Practice for Vibrio spp. in Seafood and 
an Annex on Control Measures for Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus  in Molluscan 
Shellfish;  and a Code of Hygienic Practice for Control of Viruses. 
 
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 G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  APPENDIX
  I  
 
LISTS OF STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS ADOPTED BY THE THIRTY-SECOND 
SESSION OF THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
Part 1 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 8 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Regional Standard for Gochujang  ALINORM 09/32/15 
Appendix II Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Regional Standard for Ginseng Products  ALINORM 09/32/15 
Appendix  III Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Code of Practice for the Reduction of Acrylamide in Foods ALINORM 09/32/41 
Appendix  IV Adopted 
Code of Practice for the Reduction of 
Contamination of Food with Polycyclic 
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) from 
Smoking and Direct Drying Processes ALINORM 09/32/41 
Appendix V Adopted 
Food Additive Provisions of the General 
Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix IV Adopted (except 
erythrosine) 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Amendment to the Standard for Named 
Vegetable Oil: Inclusion of Rice Bran Oil ALINORM 09/32/17 
Appendix II Adopted 
Guidelines for Settling Disputes on 
Analytical (Test) Results  ALINORM 09/32/23 
Appendix II Adopted 
Guidelines on Analytical Terminology  ALINORM 09/32/23 
Appendix III Adopted 
Table of Conditions for Nutrient Contents 
(Part B: Provisions on Dietary Fibre) to the Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health 
Claims  (CAC/GL 23-1997): ALINORM 09/32/26 
Appendix II Adopted 
Provisions on Gum Arabic (Gum acacia) 
(Section D: Advisory List of Food Additives 
for Special Nutrient Forms) to the Advisory 
Lists of Nutrient Compounds for Use in 
Foods for Special Dietary Uses Intended for 
Infants and Young Children  (CAC/GL 10-
1997) ALINORM 09/32/26 
Appendix  III Adopted (as a carrier) 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Nutritional Risk Analysis Principles and 
Guidelines for Application to the Work of 
the Committee on Nutrition and Foods for 
the Special Dietary Uses  ALINORM 09/32/26 
Appendix  IV Adopted 
Standard for Jams, Jellies and Marmalades ALINORM 09/32/27 
Appendix II Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)   G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Codex Standard for Certain Canned 
Vegetables (General Provisions) ALINORM 09/32/27 
Appendix  III Adopted 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 09/32/24 
Appendix II Adopted 
Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary 
Drugs ALINORM 09/32/31 
Appendices  II  Adopted 
Guidelines for the Design and 
Implementation of National Regulatory 
Food Safety Assurance Programmes 
Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals ALINORM 09/32/31 
Appendix  V Adopted 
Part 2 – Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 5/8 (with omission of Step 6 and 7) 
Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Regional Standard for Fermented Soybean 
Paste  ALINORM 09/32/15 
Appendix IV Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5) 
Revision to the Preamble of the GSCTF ALINORM 09/32/41 
Appendix III Adopted 
Code of Practice for the Prevention and 
Reduction of Ochratoxin A Contamination in 
Coffee ALINORM 09/32/41 
Appendix  VI Adopted 
Food Additive Provisions of the General 
Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix IV Adopted (except 
erythrosine) 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Amendments to the International Numbering 
System for Food Additives ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix  VII Adopted 
Specifications for the Identity and Purity of 
Food Additives arising from the 69th JECFA 
meeting ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix  VIII Adopted 
Microbiological Criteria for Listeria 
monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods 
(Annex II to the Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food 
Hygiene to the Control of Listeria 
monocytogenes  in Ready-to-Eat Foods 
(CAC/GL 61-2007) ALINORM 09/32/13 
Appendix II Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)  G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  Standards and Related Texts Reference Status 
Microbiological Criteria for Powdered 
Follow-up Formulae and Formulae for 
Special Medical Purposes for Young 
Children (Annex II to the Code of Hygienic 
Practice for Powdered Formulae for Infants 
and Young Children  (CAC/RCP 66-2008)) ALINORM 09/32/13 
Appendix III Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Generic Model Official Certificate (Annex to 
Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance 
and Use of Generic Official Certificate  
(CAC/GL 38-2001)  ALINORM 09/32/30 
Appendix II Adopted 
Recommendations on the Scientific Basis of 
Health Claims (Annex to the Guidelines for 
Use of Nutrition and Health Claims  - 
CAC/GL 23-1997) ALINORM 09/32/26 
Appendix  V Adopted 
Provisions for packing media for certain 
canned vegetables: Section 3.1.3 (for 
inclusion in the Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables) ALINORM 09/32/27 
Appendix  IV Adopted 
Annexes specific to certain canned 
vegetables (for inclusion in the Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables) ALINORM 09/32/27 
Appendix V Adopted 
Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides ALINORM 09/32/24 
Appendix III Adopted with amendment 
(see Agenda Item 5)  
Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary 
Drugs ALINORM 09/32/31 
Appendix  III Adopted 
Part 3 - Standards and Related Texts Adopted at Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure 
Standards and Related Texts  Reference Status 
Amendment to the Guidelines for the 
Production, Processing, Labelling and 
Marketing of Organi cally Produced Foods : 
Annex 2 (conditions for use of rotenone) ALINORM 09/32/22 
Appendix V Adopted 
Part 4 – Other Standards and Related Texts Submitted for Adoption 
Standards and Related Texts  Reference Status 
Amendments to Paragraph 10, Sample 
Preparation in the Sampling Plans for Aflatoxin Contamination in Ready-to-Eat 
Treenuts and Treenuts Destined for Further 
Processing: Almonds, Hazelnuts and Pistachios ALINORM 09/32/41 
Appendix II Adopted  G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  Standards and Related Texts  Reference Status 
Amendment to the Annex to Table 3 of the 
GSFA ALINORM 09/32/12 
para. 9 Adopted 
Amendment to the Name and Descriptors of 
Food Categories 01.2.1.1, 15.1 and 15.2 of 
the GSFA ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix IX Adopted 
Amendment to the Standard for Named 
Vegetable Oils: replacem ent of the section on 
contaminants with the standard language in 
the Format for Codex Commodity Standards  ALINORM 09/32/17 Adopted 
Additives Provisions in the Standard for Fat 
Spreads and Blended Spreads  and other 
Standards for Fats and Oils ALINORM 09/32/17 
Appendix VII  
ALINORM 09/32/12 
Appendix III Adopted 
Methods of Analysis in Codex Standards at 
different steps ALINORM 09/32/23 
Appendix IV Adopted 
 G/SPS/GEN/973 
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  APPENDIX  II 
 
LIST OF DRAFT STANDARDS AND RELATED TEXTS APPROVED AS NEW WORK BY 
THE THIRTY-SECOND SESSION OF TH E CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION 
 
Responsible 
Body Standard and Related Texts Reference Job Code 
CCPR Priority List of Chemicals scheduled for 
Evaluation and Re-evaluation by JMPR Priority List of Chemicals 
scheduled for Evaluation 
and Re-evaluation by JMPR Ongoing 
CCRVDF Priority List of Veterinary Drugs for Evaluation or 
Reevaluation by JECFA ALINORM 09/32/31, 
para. 138 and Appendix VI Ongoing 
CCPFV Revision of the Standards for Canned Bamboo 
Shoots  (CODEX STAN 241-2003) and Canned 
Mushrooms  (CODEX STAN 55-1981) for 
inclusion as annexes to the Draft Standard for Certain Canned Vegetables ALINORM 09/32/27,  
para. 109 N01-2009 
CCPFV Revision of the Standard for Table Olives 
(CODEX STAN 66-1981) ALINORM 09/32/27, 
para. 109 N02-2009 
CCPFV Revision of the Standard for Grated Desiccated 
Coconut (CODEX STAN 177-1991) ALINORM 09/32/27, 
para. 109 N03-2009 
CCLAC Regional Standard for Culantro Coyote ALINORM 09/32/36, 
para. 72 N04-2009 
CCLAC Regional Standard for Lucuma ALINORM 09/32/36, 
para. 76 N05-2009 
CCFICS Principles and Guidelines for National Food 
Control Systems ALINORM 09/32/30, 
para. 71 and Appendix III N06-2009 
CCFH Code of Hygienic Practice for Control of Viruses in 
Food ALINORM 09/32/13, 
para. 138 and Appendix V N07-2009 
CCNEA Regional Standard for Harissa (hot pepper paste) ALINORM 09/32/40, 
para. 41 N08-2009 
CCNEA Regional Standard for Halwa Tehenia (halwa 
shamia) ALINORM 09/32/40, 
para. 44 N09-2009 
CCCF Maximum Levels for Fumonisins in Maize and 
Maize Products and associated Sampling Plans ALINORM 09/32/41, 
para. 100 and Appendix 
VII N10-2009 
CCCF Code of Practice for the Reduction of Ethyl 
Carbamate in Stone Fruit Distillates ALINORM 09/32/41, 
para. 114 and Appendix 
VIII N11-2009 
CCCF Revision of the Code of Practice for the 
Prevention and Reduction of Aflatoxins in Tree Nuts (CAC/RCP 59-2005): Additional Measures 
for Brazil Nuts ALINORM 09/32/41, 
para. 122 and Appendix IX N12-2009 
CCCF Maximum Levels for Melamine in Foods and 
Feed ALINORM 09/32/41, 
para. 125 and Appendix X N13-2009 
 
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